Turbine gasoline engine



' March 4, 1941 CARLSQN 2,234,074

TURBINE GASOLINE ENGINE Filed April 26, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet.

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March 4, 1941.

E. CARLSON 2,234,074

TURBINE GASOLINE ENGINE Filed April 26, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N VENTO R 5;: Qrlson ATTORNEY March 4, 1941- CARLSQN 2,234,074

TURBINE GASOLINE ENGINE Filed April 26. 1938 5 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR March 4, 1941. E CARLSQN 2,234,074

TURB INE GASOLINE ENGINE Filed April 26, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR i ATTORNEY March 4, 1941. E, CARLSOIN 2,234,074

7 TURBINE GASOLINE ENGINE Filed April 26, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4! I (9 w 45 f {2 43 44 I r I 7 9 7 44 INVENTOR I Eric Car-28a: 7- 15 .15.

Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Eric Carlson, Mount Vernon, N. Y. Application April 2c, 1938, Serial No. 204,484

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a turbine gas engine.

More specifically, the invention proposes a construction characterized in a casing having a cir- 5 cular rotor chamber within which a turbine rotor is rotatively supported and from which a plurality of compressor cylinders extend.

Still further it is proposed to provide the compressor cylinders with pistons adapted to compress gas entering through a manifold inlet so that when the gas is compressed and ignited the explosion will be directed against the buckets formed on the periphery of the rotor for rotating the same.

Still further it is proposed to mount the rotor upon a shaft which also has a cam for controlling the action of the pistons which have four movements, the same as conventional gas engines.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the append-- ed claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig, 1 is an elevational view of a turbine gas engine constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar'to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 3 is another view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a still further modification.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in sec- 35 tion of one unit constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of 40 Fig. 4.

Fig. 'l is a sectional view on the line of Fig. 6. a

Fig. 8 is a view looking in the direction of the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the linell-ll of Fig, 4.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line I2-|2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view on the line |s-|3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a view similar the line 99 of 55 to a portion of Fig. 4

but illustrating the position of the valves when fuel is being sucked into the cylinder.

Fig. 15 is still another view similar to a portion of Fig. 4. but illustrating the position of the parts when the exhaust valve I5 is opened. 6

The turbine gas engine, according to this invention comprises a casing l0 having a circular rotor chamber ll. Ashaft I2 is rotatively mounted coaxial with the circular chamber H and a turbine rotor I3 is fixedly mountedon the shaft 1 and has its peripheral area extending into the rotor chamber H. A plurality of compressor cylinders I3 at points around the rotor chamber ll each have a nozzle M for directing the gases against the rotor l3 for rotating the same. An exhaust valve l5 for each of the compressor cylinders l3 controls the gas passage connection of the cylinder with the nozzle l4. A gas manifold l0 sup-plies the gas to the compression cylinders l3. 3

An inlet valve H for each compressor cylinder controls the gas passage connection with the gas manifold 40, and a compressor piston I8 is mounted in each cylinder I3. A cam 19 is fixedly mounted on theshaft l2 and is connected with the pistons for causing two complete reciprocations of each piston for each complete rotation of the shaft I2. A cam 20 on the shaft l2 acts upon the inlet valves I! for openingeach valve for a short inlet period, once during each complete rotation of the shaft l2. Means controlled by each of the pistons opens its associated exhaust valve l5 each time the piston reaches its forward position.

The casing 10 is supported by brackets l0 and has a cover Ill held in position across the open end of the casing III by means of screws 2| and the inner .wail of the cover Ill acts as one of the walls of the circular rotor chamber ll. At its center the cover Hi is provided with bearings 22 mounted within an opening 23 formed in an extended portion of the cover 10. A second cover element 24 is fixedly attached to the cover Hi for holding the bearings 22 in position within the openings 23. The shaft l2 extends through the cover ill and is supported by the bearings 22 for rotatively supporting the same.

The turbine rotor is fixedly attached tothe shaft l2 and is provided with a plurality of buckets l3 against which the gases are adapted to be directed by the nozzles It for rotating this rotor, which inturn rotates the shaft l2. A portion of the rotor l3 towards the center thereof is provided with aplurality of fan blades 55 bracket'or similar supporting element. The ada attached to the body portion thereof by screws 21. The pistons l8 are attached to shafts '28 which slidably extend through openin s 29 formedin the caps I3" of the compressor cylinders l3. The exhaust valve I5 is adapted to cooperate with a complementary valve seat l5 formed in the casing III in the vicinity of the nozzle l4 and when the valve element I5 is seated upon the valve seat Iii the passage through the nozzle I 4 will be closed so that any gases collecting within the compressor cylinders |3' will be compressed by the pistons l8 upou its forward movement.

Each valve l5 has an-. inwardly extending stem 34 which is provided with a collar 3| attached to a. bar 32 extending across the inner end of the compressor cylinder l3. A cup-shaped member 33 is fixedly attached to the end of the stem and a spring 34 is coaxially mounted on the stem and operates between the bottom wall of the cupshaped member 33 away from the collar 3| to seat the valve IS on the valve seat He. The spring 34 is of a strength sufllcient to hold the valve IS on its seat while the gas is being com-' pressed in the cylinder and also while the explosion is taking place and until such time as the cam It moves the piston It to unseat the valve IS. The piston is formed with an opening 35 into which thecup-shaped member 33 is adapted to engage when this piston reaches its almost fully forward position (see Fig. 4). When the piston moves to the position shown .by the dot and dash lines l8 in Fig. 4 it will compress the spring 34 to urge the collar 3| into the cup-shaped member 33 and cause the valve IE to move to the dot and dash position l5, also in Fig. 4. When this valve reaches the dot and dash position it will be fully opened to permit gases from the cylinder compressor to be directed against the buckets l3 formed upon the rotor l3. A spark plug 36 is mounted through the wall of the compressor cylinder near the completely extended position thereof for igniting the compressed gases when the piston reaches its fully extended position causing an' explosion. the force of which will pas through the nozzle l4 and contact the bucketsl3 j I The movement of the piston I8 is controlled by the large cam which is mounted upon a portion of the shaft l2 and which is formed on its periphery with a track l3, Thegshaft 28 of the piston I3 is formed of separate sections. A section 23 is provided with the piston l8 and the other section 28' is slidably supportedupon a jacent ends of the sections 28" and 28 are fixedly connected together by a link 31. The shaft ends of the sections 2|! and 28' are bifurcated and rollers 38 are rotatively supported within the bifurcated ends and on .shafts 33 extending-between the arms of the bifurcated ends. These rollers 33 are adapted to engage oneither side of the track elements IS! so that when the cam I9 is rotated by the shaft it will cause the piston l8 to reciprocate. The cam I9 is formed with-two inwardly extending portions l and two outwardly extending portions HP to cause the piston l8 to make two complete compression strokes while the shaft l2 rotates once.

The gas manifold comprises a pipe 40 connected to a gas supply at one of its ends and which continues into branch lines 4| at the other of its ends. One of these branch lines 4| goes to each of the compressor cylinders. A means is provided for controlling the'passage of, the gas through this manifold to the compressom'cylinder |3'. This means comprises a valve I'Padapted to engage a valve seat |1 formed in the side wall of the compressor cylinder l3. A stem 42 extends from the valve I! through a. portion of the branch line 4| and through the side wall of the casing l0. At its outer end the stem 42 is formed T with a collar 43 having a. rounded extension 43 adapted to abut the cam 20 attached to the shaft 2.

A spring 44 operates between the collar 43 and the base wall of an opening 45 formed in the casing III for urging the valve I! in position upon the valve seat I! to close the branch line 4| to prevent the gas from entering the compressor cylinder l3. The cam 20' is formed withan outwardly extending portion-2ll which is adapted to engage against the extension 43 for urging the stem 42 inwards against the action of the spring 44 to disengage the valve ll from the valve seat I! to open the passage through the branch line 4| to supply gas to the compressor cylinder when the piston l8 moves away therefrom. This cam 20 is formed so as to open each of these lattermentioned valves for a short inlet period once during each complete rotation of the shaft.

The casing ill at points between the nozzles I4 is formed with exhaust openings 46 through which the gases are adapted topass after they have acted upon the rotor l3.

In Fig. 1 two units are shown connected to gether so as tobe operated by means of one cam l9, In Fig. 2 one unit is shown set up for operation by one cam l9, and in Fig. 3 two uni-ts are shown set up in a manner to require two cams l9, one for operating each of the units,

The operation of this'device is as follows:

When the shaft I2 is rotated by therotor 3 the cam 20 will rotate therewith until its extended portion 20 acts against the extension 43 formed on the collar 43 to urge the shaft 42 inwards against the holding action of the spring 44 to disengage the valve I! from the valve seat I! to open the passage from the manifold 40 and the branch line 4| (see Fig. 14). While this valve is open the piston 8 moves from the position shown in Fig. 4 to an extreme rearward posi-' tion to suck gases from the manifold 40 to the compressor cylinder 3|.

When the piston l8 reaches its extreme rear position the cam 20 will have been rotated sufliciently by the shaft |2 to disengage the portion 2|) from the extension 43 to permit the spring 44 to again engage the valve upon the valve seat to close the branch 4|. The piston l8 -will then move forward to compress the gases within the compression cylinder, and when it reaches the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4,

ber 33 within the opening 35 formed in the piston seems 3 it so that any further movement of the piston I! will cause the cup-shaped member 33 to compress the spring 34 and move the stem 30 to disengage the valve I! from the valve seat l5 illustrated by the dot and dash lines ii in Fig. 4.

When the valve 15 is completely open, the force of the explosion created by the ignited gases will pass through the nozzles I4 and against the buckets I3 formed on the rotor ii, for purposes of rotating the rotor which in turn will cause the shaft II to be rotated. Further rotation of the shaft II will rotate the large cam is to again move the piston ll rearwards to seat the valve l5 upon the valve seat I5 to close the passage through the nozzle ll.

when the piston l8 reaches its fully rear posi tion, it will again be moved forward by the cam is to open the valve and force any remaining burned gases to pass through the nozzle l4 and against the buckets l3". As the gases reach a position adjacent the exhaust 'openings 46 the gases will pass therethrough and discharge into the atmosphere. Upon the next rearward motion of the piston l8, the valve 11 will again be opened by the cam 20 to cause the piston I! to suck the gases into the compression cylinder from the manifold 40 and again complete the cycle described above. a

While I have shown the casing provided with tour compression cylinders, to each rotor l3. this casing may also be provided with any number of additional compressor cylinders and other changes may be made without materially departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a casing having a circular rotor chamber, a rotor rota,- tively supported axially or said casing, buckets mounted on the peripheral edge or said rotor and extending into said rotor chamber, a'cylinder mountedon said casing adjacent the peripheral edge thereof and having an inlet for fuel, a nozzle connecting the interior of said cylinder to said rotor chamber, a piston slidably engaged into said cylinder, means for. reciprocating said piston, a valve seat formed on the end oi said nozzle adiacent said cylinder, a valve en agin said seat for closing said non-1e, a stem extending from said valve into said cylinder, resilient means for holding said valve in position on said seat, a rod extended across the end of said cylinder, a collar mounted on said rod and through which said stem freely passes, a cup-shaped member mounted on the inner end of said stem and engageable into said recess formed in said piston when said 5 piston almost reaches the end of its stroke, means for simultaneously igniting the compressed fuel contained in said cylinder so that further movement of said piston towards the end of said cylinder will cause said stem to be extended from said 10 cylinder to unseat said valve so that the burned gases resulting from said ignition will pass from said cylinder through said nozzle and into said rotor chamber and against said buckets to rotate said rotor. I

2. In a device of the class described, a casing having a circular rotor chamber, a rotor rotatively supported axially of said casing, buckets mounted on the peripheral edge of said rotor and extending into said rotor chamber, a cylinder go mounted on said casing adjacent the peripheral edge thereof and having an inlet for fuel, a nozzle connecting the interior of said cylinder to said rotor chamber, a piston slidably engaged into said cylinder and having a recess formed in the head 25 thereof and arranged to suck fuel into said cylinder through said inlet to be compressed when said piston moves towards the end or said cylinder having said nozzle, means for reciprocating said piston, a valve seat formed on the end oi said 30 nozzle adjacent said cylinder, a valve engaging said seat for closing said nozzle, a stem extending from said valve into said cylinder, resilient means for holding said valve in position on said seat, a rod extended across the end of said cylinder, 8. 35 collar mounted on said rod and through which said stem freely passes, a cup-shaped member mounted on the inner end of said stem and engageable into said recess formed in said piston when said piston almost reaches the end of its 4 stroke, means for simultaneously igniting the compressed fuel contained in said cylinder so that further movement of said piston towards the end of said cylinder will cause said stem to be extended from said cylinder to unseat said valve so that the burned gases resulting from said ignition will pass from said cylinder through said nozzle and. into said rotor chamber and against said buckets to rotate said rotor, said resilient means comprising a spring coaxiall'y mounted upon the inner end or said stem and operative between said collar and said cup-shaped member.

ERIC CARLSONK 

